v.intr. (grovelled, grovelling; US groveled, groveling)
1. behave obsequiously in seeking favour or forgiveness.
2 lie prone in abject humility.
Derivatives:
groveller n. grovelling adj. grovellingly adv.
Etymology: back-form. f. obs. grovelling (adv.) f. gruf face down f. on grufe f. ON {aacute} gr{uacute}fu, later taken as pres. part.